The Challeges of Parenting in a Digital Age

There is an amazing amount of information around about parenting in a digital age.  It is a huge challenge for parents.  Here are a couple of youtube videos which could help you on that journey.


This is a longer video about the challenges faced.

Recently the Parenting Place and Vodafone created digi-parenting.co.nz which has nice simple tips.  This is an introduction video.

Keep enjoying the digital world.  With it you can learn anything!

Chromebook Insights

In May 2016 we celebrated our first Chromebook trial.  Since then I have been slowly upgrading our Chromebook training materials and discovering the wonder of the Chromebook for myself.  

What is a Chromebook you ask?  The easiest way for me to tell you is to share this video.

Chromebooks are amazing little devices.  They basically have the internet and nothing else.  BUT on the internet you can do EVERYTHING.  They switch on right away and boom you are in the internet.

Instead of using Microsoft Word, Excel and Powerpoint you use Google Docs, Slides and Sheets. They are like simple versions of their Microsoft cousins.  They have some amazing features like in the help area you can type what you want to do and it actually does it for you a lot of the time.  It makes it so much easier.  Some of the feedback from our classes has been "wow this is so much easier.  I have tried to learn Word and Excel so many times.  I didn't get it.  Now I can with Google".

The great news is you can also use Microsoft if you have Microsoft 365 which most children at school do.  Here is a photo of one of our graduates Jonathon with his son enjoying his Chromebook.

We are running three more Chromebook trials at Whanganui in September.  If you have school aged children who live in Whanganui and don't have technology at home go and see one of these schools: Castlecliff School  at Polson Street, Whanganui  OR Keith Street School at Keith Street (In Town) Whanganui OR TKKM o Atihaunui a Paparangi (Putiki opposite the church) to register.

Marton Celebrations in May 2016

Well we are very much in catch up mode here in Whanganui after an extremely busy six weeks.  I have now arrived back in the office and are going to post the photos from our many graduations.  These are the photos from our Marton class on 2016.  Deepest thanks and gratitude to our wonderful trainer and coordinator Angela Coleman from the Marton ICT Hub and Vanessa Te Ua and Michelle Cameron our principals from Marton Junction School who hosted our celebration and Michelle from James Cook.  Also to Andy Watson Mayor Rangitikei who is a great supporter of our programme.

Here is to our wonderful class of 12 graduates who all completed 20 hours of computer training and gained the goal of having technology for their kids.

Here is our celebration on Youtube

Ohakune Graduation

We have never been so busy.  Graduations in Marton, Ohakune, Taihape and Whanganui over a 12 day period.

A cold snap decided to hit in Ohakune and the mountain provided a beautiful backdrop for our 14 Ohakune graduates.

Over eight week our graduates have learned about everything from Word to Google Drive.  There were parents from Ruapehu College, Raetihi Primary School and the host school Ohakune.  Here is our celebration.  Here are our families

Ohakune Graduation on PhotoPeach

Chromebook Trial in Whanganui

Life is very exciting in Whanganui right now.  We are doing a Chromebook Trial with six families from Carlton School and nine whanau from TKKM O Te Atihanunui a Paparangi.

This was the day our new Chromebooks arrived.  It's been a huge learning curve for all of us.  We have had to learn to train in a new way and think about lots of things like technical support and internet connections in a new way.

Our deepest thanks to our trainer Aaron Tasker who has been great and really keen on learning about these new devices.  I have a good feeling about this trial and our families are loving it.

Exciting start to 2016

Well we have a really busy start to the year in our Region with classes in Taihape, Ohakune, Marton, Keith Street School and Tawhero School already in their third week.

Here are some photos from our Taihape classes.  We have an afternoon and early evening class going. The parents have a great setup and the school lets them practice their new skills during the week.  The principal gave us some great feedback this morning saying "Computers in Homes has been good for our school"

Next month I will be able to bring you photos from our first Chromebook trial which we are starting at Carlton School next week.

Whanganui Region Computers in Homes Classes starting March 2016

If you have children at school, no computer at home that your children can use and you haven't done Computers in Homes before then chances are you fit our criteria.  If you come to 2.5 hours of training once a week for 8 weeks and paying a deposit of $20 and $5 per week for the first six weeks of training then you will be the proud owner of a refurbished PC complete with MS Office and Windows 7, you could opt for subsidised internet and we look after your computer for 12 months.

So if you have children in Ruapehu, Taihape, Marton, Ohakune, Raetihi or Whanganui then here are your options:


Keith Street School  - Wednesday mornings 9.30 - 12pm  starting early March  address: Keith Street, Central City,  Whanganui (register at the school - other schools very welcome)

Tawhero School - Tuesday mornings 9.30 - 12pm  starting 15 March address: Totora Street - Gonville - Whanganui (register at the school - other schools very welcome)

Whanganui Learning Centre, Thursday mornings 9.30am - 12pm  starting late March 2015 - 232 Wickstead Street, Central City

Marton ICT Hub , Thursday evenings - 6 - 8.30pm starting 10 March  (behind the Library)

Taihape Area School - Wednesdays either 12.15 - 2.45pm  OR 4.30 to 7pm  starting early March (register at the school - other schools very welcome)

Ohakune Primary School - Tuesdays either 12.15 - 2.45pm  OR 5.30 - 8pm starting early March (register at the school - other schools very welcome)

We may have another venue very soon so keep an eye on our Facebook Page Computers in Homes Wanganui